470 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ers of the various breeds, jacks, Shetland ponies and so on down through 

 the entire list, practically all classes being full. So great was the exhibit 

 that not until late on Friday night, right up to the hour of breaking 

 up the fair, was the last prize awarded. 



The cattle show was not a phenomenal one in any breed. In fact, 

 It lacked numbers as compared with other years. It lacked quality in 

 the proportion that it has existed at previous shows. Fewer of the big 

 professional herds were represented, and these did not seem to attract 

 the same attention as in other years. However, it was a representative 

 Rhow, including all the beef breeds except Brown Swiss. The dairy barn 

 suffered in comparison with other years, there being but a few herds 

 of Holsteins and Jerseys in competition. 



The show of sheep in Iowa, it seems, has been gradually decreasing 

 In numbers for several years. It was scarcely up to what should be 

 expected at Des Moines and certainly far below the possibilities of the 

 location. We find, on interviewing local breeders, that the classifications 

 have for some time been unsatisfactory and that, were they really re- 

 vised, there would be a much greater showing of home-bred sheep by 

 Iowa breeders. 



The amusements provided at the Iowa State Fair are certainly in the 

 advance of those of all other fairs. They are practically beyond criticism 

 In all departments. A few of the smaller shows that were permitted 

 to enter the grounds seemed not to be of an objectionable order, but it 

 was a noticeable fact that the legitimate points of interest of the fair were 

 given the attention of visitors rather than the shows. 



THE AIRSHIP A GREAT ATTRACTION. 



The airship was a great thing. Everybody looked at it and every- 

 body went to see it, whether it was in the tent, where an admission 

 was charged to obtain a closer view of it, or w^hether it was flying in 

 the air above. The airship is not an airship at all. It is a great, big 

 cabbage worm shaped balloon, turned over on its side, with a very light, 

 long frame attached below it on which the operator rode in what seemed 

 to be a very dangerous situation. The cabbage worm gas bag was the 

 means of getting the whole thing up in the air and it was propelled 

 by a small gasoline engine, with a paddle-wheel propeller at one end 

 of the long frame hung below the balloon, the rudder, or steering device, 

 being located at the other end. It was a nice demonstration of the 

 unusual, but as a means of aerial navigation did not seem to give much 

 promise. 



At all times during the day there were, on platforms within the race 

 track and fronting the amphitheater, various performances of acrobats, 

 a troupe of performing elephants and educated donkeys and other at- 

 tractions that completely filled the time between the racing events. Music 

 lovers were entertained many times daily by the performances of the 

 great Liberati band. Throughout the week also there were at various 

 times through the day performances by a band of five Scotch bag-pipe 

 artists clad in plaids and kilts and attractive perhaps more because of 

 their dress than their musical ability. Big Sandy, who operated on a 



